North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

Killavilla United 2-0 Clodiagh Rangers

Only one game went ahead last weekend in the Premier Division, and it was the hugely significant one at that as champions Killavilla United put one hand on the title thanks to a 2-0 win over Clodiagh Rangers in Villa Park.

The win sees them go three points clear of the chasing pack with two games in hand.

Two first half goals saw Dennis Moloney’s side got their revenge over the side that dumped them out of the FAI Junior Cup. Paul Kirwan got the first and former Moneygall man Niall O’Lone the second.

The visitors did have chances, David Butler had an effort cleared off the line in the first half and the Drombane men also hit the post just before the break Sam Van Dam had a chance to halve the deficit from the spot after Paudie Guidera was up ended in the box, but the former Harps man failed to convert. Clodiagh huffed and puffed in the second half, but they just couldn’t break down the resolute Villa back 3.

Next week Adrian Cooke takes his Clodiagh Rangers side to Strandhill in Sligo in the fourth round of the FAI Junior Cup and the NTDL wishes Clodiagh Rangers the best of luck in this exciting away day and fixture.

Division 1

Borroway Rovers invincible season continued on Sunday as a youthful Moneygall side fell victim a heavy 6-2 defeat in Loughtagalla Park.

The champions-in-waiting were 2-1 up at the break. Jack Derby, Keith Moore, Liam McCormack, Dean McCormack, Darren Fahy, and centre back Cormac Lanigan all got in on the scoring action. The win sends Paul Gould’s side eight points clear of second place Ardcroney with two more games played.

Jack O’Brien was on the scoresheet as ever for Moneygall; and on his return to the NTDL following the end of the hurling season, Niall Maher also found the net. Relegation is a real possibility now for Moneygall but their destiny is firmly in their own hands with five games to go. Away trips to Tierney Park and the Greyhound Stadium in Thurles will go a long way to deciding what division the Offaly side will ply their trade in next season. Billy Hayes’ young side play some of the best football in the division, particularly at home, but four of their final five games are away from home.

Division 2

On Sunday, Shinrone continued their unbeaten start and recent surge to the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Borrisoleigh in Drombane.

A Simon Hayes brace and a goal apiece from Riann McLoughlin and Dan Bevans were necessary to cancel out strikes from Kevin Maher and Alvis Danko for the hosts.

The win sees Declan Mullalley’s charges go level at the top with two games in hand over the team they share the podium with, Birdhill. Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ will likely overtake Borrisoleigh in the coming weeks, but it has still been a positive campaign for the young squad that the new entrants have assembled.

The new management team of Brian Commins and David Tighe got their first win in charge of Lough Derg ‘B’ thanks to a 6-1 win over Ballymackey ‘B’ in Clarisford on Sunday.

The damage was done in the first half with four goals scored from corners with Shane Grace and Kieran Larkin sharing the spoils. Colm Maher pulled one back from the spot for the visitors before Lough Derg made it 5-1 at the break courtesy of a Thiago thunderbolt. Ballymackey had Lough Derg under serious pressure in the second half.

Tommy Connelly and Cian Commins had to dig deep in the heart of the Derg defence, whilst full backs Luke Hession and Max Ryan were made work hard. Goalkeeper Cathal Mullane made an impressive save to halt the Ballymackey revival. Dan Tighe had a fine game but having made three assists, Dan Furey finally got in on the scoring action when he finished off a great team goal late on to cap off a man of the match performance.

Tipperary Cup

The big upset of the weekend was when Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ dumped Thurles Town out of the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup in their own backyard.

A Paul Ryan first half proved to be the winner, and despite missing a second half penalty, Clodiagh saw out the game well, winning with a dominant display of attacking football to set up another away trip to Thurles, this time against Borroway Rovers.